Apparatus and method for stacking apparel and like articles



Dec. 23. 1969 w. A. RAMSEY ET AL 3,485,490

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STACKING APPAREL AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed April 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLARD A. RAMSEY AARON e. COLN HORACE E. owsws BY PR/WM);

ATTORNEY 23. 1-969 I w. A. RAMSEY ETAL 3,485,490

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STACKING APPAREL AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed April 20. 1967 I 4 ShuthShu't is w no.3

I4 26 vs u mvmont I r u 41- 4a WILLARD AI msiv won a. com L4. HORACE a. mans ATTORNEY Dec. 23. 1969 w. A. RAMSEY ETAL 3,485,490

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STACKING APPAREL AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed April 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WILLARD A. RAMSEY AARON G. COLN F G 4 BY HORACE E. OWENS ORS Dec. 23. 1969 w. A. RAMSEY ET AL 3,485,490

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR smcxme APPAREL AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed April 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 74 iani r I 1 I 82 i 8 a:

l 1 I L* l I g T T 12?vi2 r-fiE)R- WILLARD A. RAMSEY AARON e. COLN HORACE H owsws l BY 3 ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 271-68 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and method whereby flimsy cloth articles emerging from a sewing machine and linked together by trim or braid or thread are first separated and then advanced to a stacking member over which they are successively draped or hung. While being advanced, each article is essentially free-hanging in a vertical plane for the purpose of space economy. To prevent slippage of the stack, the articles are at all times positively clamped to the stack-supporting member and means are provided to smooth out the hanging body portions of the stacked articles, the cycle of operation being continuous and automatic.

BACKGROUND" OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns that class of apparatus or method wherein flexible sheet material articles are carried to a suitable station for stacking on a supporting member or bar.

Traditionally, this type of stacking operation has been done manually. by sewing machine operators, resulting in a considerable loss of time and overall poor efficiency. The operator must sever the trim linking together the apparel pieces and then stack each piece neatly on underlying pieces.

More recently, a number of apparatuses have been presented for this operation but have had limited practical value for the following reasons:

(1) None of them have sufficient versatility and will stack only a limited range of shapes and sizes;

(2) Most such apparatus must be attached more-or-less permanently to the sewing machine, rendering the apparatus not readily portable and further rendering it diflicult to effect changes or variations in the work being stacked. Changes and movement of the apparatus is usually time-consuming and requires skilled personnel:

(3) Usually, the cutting device which separates the garments is a separate unit from the stacker and is mounted permanently on the sewing machine base requiring drilling and the use of screws, etc.;

(4) In presently available stackers, the required floor space is usually greater than the maximum size or area of work pieces being stacked; and

(5) Prior art stackers normally drape the article over a bar-type support in a balanced condition without any positive holding means. With flimsy cloth articles and synthetic fabrics, the articles frequently slip and fall from the support. These devices are practically useless for stacking sheer materials with a slick texture, such as silk, nylon and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention apparatus and method overcomes the above prior art deficiencies by the provision of a stacker which will adequately handle the diverse stacking needs of the apparel industry where styles change frequently. The apparatus is readily portable, does not attach permanently to the sewing machine and can be installed and moved in a matter of minutes by unskilled personnel.

The stacker can handle a wide range of sizes and shapes of work pieces without change or adjustment and is extremely versatile in this respect. The cut-off mechanism which separates the garments is made an integral part of the "stacker, eliminating the need for attaching any parts to the sewing machine.

Most importantly, the invention makes it possible to stack large work pieces in the very minimum of floor space. The work pieces are handled at all times mainly in a vertical position or plane. Provision is made in the stacker for the cloth articles to be positively held or clamped at all times, even while a new work piece is being deposited on the stack. Means is also provided to constantly pull the linked together work pieces into the stacker as they emerge from the sewing machine, therefore allowing the sewing machine operator to have complete freedom of both hands and to concentrate on the sewing operation.

An electronic control circuit is provided which automatically activates the cutting knife and initiates the stacker cycle at the proper time. The operation is completely automatic and the sewing machine operator is not required to handle any controls or even to pause in her work.

Briefly, according to the invention, a chain of cloth articles is pulled from the sewing machine over a short table support and the leading end of each article is allowed to fall to a hanging position. The connecting trim is out between each article at the proper time and the cycle of operation of the stacker commences automatically. The trailing end portion of each separated article is clamped and carried toward a stacker bar which may be supporting previously stacked articles. Such articles are continuously clamped to the stacker bar so that no slippage can occur. Each conveyed article is draped over the bar and released in a continuous operation. Another moving element smoothes out the hanging portion of each article when it is added to the stack. The same element which smoothes the stack serves also to clamp the stack to the stacker bar while a main clamp is raised to permit the placing of a new article onto the stacker. Therefore, there is no time during which the stack is not positively held on the stacker bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view looking toward the front of the stacking apparatus employed in the practice of the method;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the upper portion of the stacker shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a complete longitudinal vertical section through the stacker looking in an opposite direction to FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the electronic control circuit for the stacker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates a housing for the apparatus which is essentially upright and slender so as to occupy the minimum possible floor space. The housing may have a suitable supporting framework, not shown, to provide sufiicient rigidity. The entire housing is preferably mounted on wheels 11 having extension and retraction cylinders 12 rigidly secured to the housing 10 and operable to project the wheels below the bottom wall 13 of the housing when it is desired to move the apparatus from place-to-place. When the wheels. 11 are retracted,

3 FIGURE 3, the apparatus rests in a stable manner on the floor.

At its forward side, the housing provides a horizontal support shelf or table extension 14 which may be releasably clamped over the top of a sewing machine table 15 by a simple screw clamp or clamps 16 on the front of the apparatus. In this manner, the stacker does not form a permanent attachment to the sewing machine proper and may be removed therefrom readily at any time by unskilled personnel. The table 15 supports conventional sewing mechanism shown diagrammatically at 17 near one end thereof and forming no direct part of this invention. The sewing mechanism is utilized to sew trim, braid or the like indicated at 18 to apparel articles 19 as the latter are advanced by the operator through the sewing mechanism and toward the stacker. The trim 18 at this time connects the articles 19 so as to form a continuous chain thereof.

Between the sewing mechanism 17 and the inlet mouth 20 of the stacker, an automatic severing unit 21 is provided and this unit forms an integral part of the stacker and is secured fixedly, although adjustably, to the table extension 14. The purpose of the unit 21 is to cut the connecting trim 18 between each pair of articles 19 at the proper time so that the articles are separated and pulled into the stacker individually in a controlled manner. The cutter unit 21 includes a vertically reciprocating cut-off knife 22 and coacting stationary knife 23, and the unit includes a photoelectric cell 24 for detecting the presence or absence of the articles 19 under the knife 22. The operation of the cutter unit will be further described.

Also adjacent to the mouth of the apparatus is a powerdriven puller roll 25 which may consist of several sections on a horizontal shaft 26, as best shown in FIGURE 1. The smaller sections are indicated at 25' in FIGURE 1. The main section 25 is preferably serrated and engages the articles 19 near the connecting trim 18 and near the cutter unit. The puller roll shaft extends for the full width of the mouth 20 so that the stacker may receive articles which vary considerably in size without requiring any adjustment of parts. The roll 25 cooperates with a slightly elevated sill 27 on the table extension 14 when drawing the chain of articles into the stacker. The puller roll shaft 26 has its own motor 28 connected with one end thereof through suitable gearing 29. The motor 28 may be secured to one side wall 30 of the housing 10, FIGURE 4.

Inwardly of the mouth 20 and supporting extension 14, a main chamber 31 exists within the housing for the collection of the articles 19 in stacked relation as they are automatically draped over a fixed stacker bar 32 which spans the upper portion of the chamber 31 transversely and horizontally between the side walls of the housing. The fixed stacker bar 32 is substantially at the center of the apparatus, FIGURE 3. The broad function of the apparatus, after severing the trim 18 to separate the articles, is to pull them in succession into the apparatus chamber 31 and drape them over the bar 32 in neatly stacked relation and to have the stacked articles firmly clamped to the bar 32 at all times even while a fresh article is being placed upon the stack. The apparatus also smoothes out the stack and pushes the hanging portion 33 of the stack toward the rear of the chamber 31 after each article 19 is deposited thereon.

To accomplish these functions, an upper driven conveyor loop 34 is provided within an upper chamber 35 of the apparatus, above the table extension 14. The loop 34 comprises a pair of endless chains 36 arranged near and inwardly of the side walls of the housing 10 and operating in vertical planes, being supported by suitable sprocket gears 37, as shown. The two chains 36 are powered in unison by a drive motor 38 and gear reduction unit 39, through a suitable chain 40 to a transverse drive shaft 41 having a driven sprocket gear 42, FIGURE 4. The motor 38 is secured to a suitable fixed wall 43 within the upper chamber 35. The two conveyor chain loops 36 have secured thereto and spanning the entire distance therebetween a pair of brushes 44 which constitute a means for engaging or clamping and advancing the articles 19 as will be further described. Each brush 44 travels in a horizontal path from the entrance mouth 20 toward the rear of the apparatus upon reaching the lower horizontal runs 36 of the chain loops 36. The brushes 44 in the drawings are shown in their inactive positions with respect to the articles 19 and these positions correspond to the beginning of a new stacking cycle for the apparatus. Also carried by the chain loops 36 slightly in advance of the brushes 44 are a pair of driving lugs 45, whose operation will be fully described. The arrows in the drawings depict the direction of movement of the chain loops 36.

The apparatus further comprises a pair of coacting chain loops 46 in the lower chamber 31 and arranged in vertical alignment with the chain loops 36. As shown in FIGURE 3, the chain loops 46 follow a rectangular path close to the walls of the housing 10. The stacker bar 32 is within the confines of the chain loops 46, relatively near the top runs thereof. At spaced intervals, the chain loops carry clamp or conveyor bars 47 which coact with the brushes 44 in a manner to be described for supporting and conveying each individual article 19 toward the rear of the chamber 31 and over the bar 32. Also secured to the chain loops 46 slightly in advance of the bars 47 are a corresponding number of driving dogs 48 for the loops 46. The driving dogs 48 are in the path of movement of the lugs 45 on chain loops 36 and are engaged by the latter at the proper time when one of the brushes 44 is directly opposite one of the bars 47, with one of the articles 19 gripped therebetween. The lugs 45 will at that instant cause the chain loops 46 to move along with the power-driven loops 36. The loops 46 are unpowered except for the driving action of the lugs 45 with dogs 48.

The stacker also comprises within the lower chamber 31 a third pair of chain loops 49 which operate within the confines of the larger loops 46 and in the region forwardly of the stacker bar 32. The loops 49 engage corner sprocket gears 50, supported on shafts 51 having their ends mounted on vertical frame plates 52, pivoted at 53 to the side walls of the housing 10. Consequently, under certain conditions to be described, the loops 49 may pivot with their sprockets and the frame structure 52 around the axis of pivot 53. Secured to the chain loops 49 for movement therewith in spaced relation are a clamp or holding bar 54 and a follow bar 55, for a purpose to be described. These bars similarly to the brushes 44 and bars 47 span the distance between the respective chain loops, as shown in FIGURE 4. The chain loops 46 also operatively engage corner idler sprockets 56 as shown.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, the chain loops 49 are powered by a chain drive 57, connected with one of the shafts 51, and driven by a separate motor 58 on the wall or panel 43 also having a speed reducer 59 of a conventional type connected therewith.

A clamp or pressure bar 60 immediately above the stacker bar 32 for coaction therewith is secured to the piston rod 61 of a vertical retractable and extensible air cylinder unit 62, suitably mounted upon the panel 43. Raising and lowering air valves 63 and 64 are provided and suitably mounted, FIGURE 3. These valves control the rasing and lowering of the pressure bar 60, as will be further described. The pressure bar 60 is equipped with additional vertical guides 65, as shown, so that its action will be stable. A microswitch 66 for stopping the movement of chain loops 36 is provided, as well as microswitches 67 and 68 for starting and stopping chain loops 49, in a manner to be described. The chamber 31 preferably has an internal liner '69 within which the stacked articles 19 are accumulated and protected from contact with moving parts, dirt and the like.

OPERATION When the stacker is at rest between stacking cycles, the brushes 44 are at the positions shown in the drawings and one brush is near and above the mouth of the apparatus. As each work piece or garment 19 emerges from the sewing machine 17, it is picked up by puller roll which continues to feed the work into the stacker. The puller roll 25 has a friction clutch between it and the drive motor 28. The clutch is conventional and maybe an integral part of the motor 28 and need not be shown in detail. If the operator happens to stop the sewing machine 17 at any time before a work piece 19 clears the sensing photocell 24 of cutter unit 21, the friction clutch permits the puller roll 25 to stop. When the sewing machine is started again, the slack in the material is felt at the puller roll and this roll immediately begins to rotate and to again feed the work into the stacker.

By the time that the particular work piece 19 has cleared the photocell 24, FIGURE 3, the leading edge portion has fallen well down into the chamber 31 and has passed over the edge of the rather short table extension 14. Such a work piece 19 is shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3.

When the trailing edge of the work piece 19 passes the photocell 24, the knife 22 is immediately and automatically activated, cutting the trim 18, lace, braid or thread between the articles 19. At the same time, the stacker mechanism is activated to begin the stacking sequence or cycle. That is to say, motor 38 is started, driving chain loops 36 in the direction of the arrows, thus moving brushes 44 and drive lugs 45 with the chains.

As the brush 44 near the mouth of the apparatus moves downwardly around the adjacent sprocket 37, it will contact the top of the work piece 19 immediately behind puller roll 25. The brush moves along on table extension 14 frictionally carrying the work piece 19 with it. The drive lug 45 is also moving and in due time will engage the adjacent dog 48 of lower chain loop 46, and this occurs for both chain loops 46 at the opposite sides of the apparatus. This causes chain loops 46 to be driven in the direction of the arrows in synchronism with chain loops 36, causing the near bar 47 to travel out from under table extension 14 so as to be directly beneath the brush 44 when the chain loops 46 start to move. The adjacent work piece 19 is thereby clamped between the brush 44 and the underlying bar 47. Both of these members now travel together toward the rear of the stacker. As they approach the guides 65 supporting pressure bar 60, the air valve 63 is operated causing air cylinder 62 to retract its piston and raise pressure bar 60 above the path of movement of the brush and bar 47. This permits these elements and the work piece 19 to pass across the stacker bar 32. It is important to note here that even though the pressure bar 60 has been elevated, the work stacked on the bar 32 continues to be held securely by the holding device or bar on chain loops 49 which are still stationary. This is an important feature of the invention and a distinct improvement over the prior art. The work draping over the bar 32 is never left unsecured or unclamped even during the time that another work piece 19 is being laid over the stacking bar. Therefore, the stack cannot slip or fall, even where slick filmsy fabrics are being processed.

When the brush 44 and conveyor bar 47 have cleared the pressure bar 60, air valve 64 is actuated, returning the pressure bar downwardly automatically into clamping engagement with the newly deposited work piece 19 of the stack. As the brush 44 nears the rear of the stacker, it trips microswitch 67 for starting motor 58. The holding member 54 which is now disposed under the recently deposited work piece 19 moves downwardly around the free end of the work piece with the chains 49 and returns to its original position, FIGURE 3. The member 54 is now on top of the last-deposited work piece on the stacker bar 32. The member 54 serves the two-fold purposes of clamping or holding the stack when pressure bar 60 is elevated and smoothing out the tail portion 33 of the stack as it travels around its circuit with the chains 49.

By this time, the brush 44 and conveyor bar 47 have arrived at the rear legs of chain loops 36 and 46, FIG- URE 3, and these elements turn around their respective sprockets 37 and 56 and separate, the brush rising and the bar 47 traveling downwardly. This of course releases the previously-clamped and supported end of the work piece 19, allowing it to hang freely as depicted at 70 in FIGURE 3 opposite to the body portion or tail 33. The chain loops 66 now stop as driving lugs 45 disengage driven dogs 48. Chain loops 36 continue to move until the second of the pair of brushes 44 reaches the starting point near the mouth 20 of the apparatus, actuating switch 66 causing motor 38 to stop automatically. The stacker is now ready for another complete automatic stacking cycle when sensing photocell 24 is again activated.

Referring to the electronic control circuit for the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5, power is applied to the stacker at lines 71 and 72 as 110 volts AC. If necessary, a step-down transformer, not shown, may be employed as where only 220 volts AC is available. From lines 71 and 72, the power goes through stacker ON and OFF switch 73 to transformer 74. At the output of transformer 74, 24 volts AC is applied to a bridge rectifier 75, filtered at 76, and regulated by Zener diode 77. This 24 volt DC is applied through cut-off ON and OFF switch 78 to a light source 79 and previously-mentioned photocell 24 of cut-off unit 21, and to the printed circuit board 80 indicated in broken lines.

When a work piece 19 is moving through the sewing machine 17, photoelectric cell 24 is dark, but as the work piece clears the sewing machine, very quickly thereafter the cell will be illuminated by light source 79 due to passage of the trailing edge of the work piece, and a voltage change is felt at the base of transistor 81. This is amplified by the Schmitt trigger circuit consisting of transistors 81 and 82, which applies a positive pulse to the gate of silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 83. SCR 83 fires, applying +24 volts to the delay circuit 84 which, after a delay which may be set by variable resistance 85, triggers SCR 86. SCR 86 picks relay 87 energizing an air valve solenoid 88 which operates a cut-off knife 22 of unit 21. At the same time, relay contact 89 opens and resets SCR 83 and SCR 86, while contact 90 picks relay 91 which first opens the trigger to SCR 83 so that any further light variations at the photocell 24 cannot cause another operation of the knife 22, and secondly triggers SCR 92 which starts the main drive motor 38 for chain loops 36. Relay 87 drops out after several milliseconds when capacitor (C) 93 has had time to discharge, but the photoelectric cell 24 must be dark and then be illuminated before the cycle can be repeated.

When SCR 92 is triggered by relay 91, SCR 94 is fired. This applies 110 volts AC to the speed control circuit of SCR 95. The components associated with SCR 95 form a phase shifting network which causes SCR 95 to trigger for more or less of each cycle of voltage, thereby providing speed control and regulation for main drive motor 38. This is a conventional SCR speed control circuit.

Whe the motor 38 has driven chain loops 36 for a complete cycle, an actuator opens motor turnoff microswitch 66 and this drops out SCR 92 and SCR 94 in turn. The motor 38 therefore stops the brush 44 at the starting point adjacent to the mouth 20 of the apparatus, as shown in FIGURE 3.

During the cycle of operation just described, immediately after the presser bar 60 is lowered behind the moving brush 44, microswitch 67 is closed, which turns on SCR 96, starting the secondary drive motor 58 which drives chain loops 49 in chamber 31. This moves chain loops 49 in the direction of the arrow, carrying holding and wiping bar 54 and this bar or rod, while traveling downwardly, smoothes the tails 33 of the stacked work and pushes them back toward the rear of chamber 31. If the stack is thick, the support structure 52 carrying loops 49 will pivot on the pivot element 53 as the following bar 55 passes the stacker bar 32. This causes the lower ends of the chain loops to swing momentarily toward the rear of chamber 31, and thus the moving bar 54 will push the tails 33 rearwardly, permitting longer work pieces 19 to be stacked in a smaller floor space. When bar 54 returns to its normal position, an actuator opens motor turn-off microswitch 68 and stops secondary drive motor 58. The bar 54 is now on top of the lastdeposited work piece 19 and engaging the stack and holding it against the side of the stacker bar 32, as shown in FIGURE 3. The next cycle of operation is ready to begin.

Other components of the control circuit are conventional and need not be described in detail herein. Such mechanical elements as microswitch actuators moving with the chains are entirely conventional and have been omitted for simplicity.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for stacking flimsy and slick apparel articles and the like comprising support and feed means for the article, a stacking chamber adjacent the support and feed means and extending therebelow and receiving the articles from the support and feed means in a substantially free-hanging vertically suspended condition, a stacker bar spanning the stacker chamber transversely of the direction of feed of the articles and below the elevation of the support and feed means, a pair of movable clamping members for clamping coaction with the top and with one side of the stacker bar in a predetermined cycle so that articles stacked on the stacker bar are always clamped thereto at the top or at one side thereof, and clamping conveyor means for the articles receiving them from the support and feed means and carrying the articles substantially horizontally forwardly toward the stacker bar while the articles are freely suspended generally vertically, the clamping conveyor means separating to release the articles after the conveyor means has carried the articles across the top of the stacker bar.

2. Apparatus for stacking according to claim 1, and wherein the clamping conveyor means includes a pair of opposed generally parallel substantially horizontal flexible conveyor runs near the elevation of the support and feed means and above the stacker bar and guide wheel means for said runs causing them to separate near one side of the stacking chamber to thereby release the articles onto the stacker bar.

3. Apparatus for stacking cloth articles and the like as the same emerge from a sewing machine, said apparatus comprising a support, means to engage the articles and to move them one at a time from the sewing machine and over the support, an article stacking chamber including a stationary stacker bar beyond the discharge end of said support and being below the support so that the leading end of each article may tumble into said chamher from the support and hang therein in a generally vertical plane, conveyor means engaging and supporting the trailing end portion of each article substantially as it passes from said support and is released by the moving means, said conveyor means carrying each article in freehanging condition substantially horizontally across said chamber until the article engages the stationary stacker bar and is carried across and beyond the same, the conveyor means then adapted to release each article so that it may hang over the stacker bar, said conveyor means comprising a conveyor loop in the stacking chamber including a horizontal run near the elevation of said support and above the stacker bar, and a coacting conveyor loop above said support and first-named conveyor loop and having a lower horizontal run in opposed relation to the first-named horizontal run, the first-named and coacting conveyor loops carrying article-engaging and gripping elements, a clamp member for clamping the articles on the stacker bar in stacked relation, and power means to shift the clamp member away from the stacker bar during the passage of each article thereacross and to return the clamp member into clamping engagement with the stacker bar after each article is deposited thereon.

4. Apparatus for stacking according to claim 3, and power means for driving the coacting conveyor loop, spaced driving lugs on the coacting conveyor loop, and spaced driven dogs on the first-named conveyor loop engaged and driven by said lugs, the first-named conveyor loop being unpowered except through the action of said lugs and dogs.

5. Apparatus for stacking according to claim 4, and wherein the article engaging and gripping elements of the first-named and coacting conveyor loops comprise substantially rigid clamp bars on the first-named loop, and resilient clamping elements on the coacting conveyor loop.

6. Apparatus for stacking according to claim 5, and wherein the resilient clamping elements are brushes.

7. Apparatus for stacking accordingly to claim 5, and wherein the firstnarned and coacting conveyor loops each comprise a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyor chains and guiding sprockets for the chains, said substantially rigid clamp bars and resilient clamping elements extending between the spaced conveyor chains and having their opposite ends connected with the chains of the first-named and coacting loops.

8. Apparatus for stacking cloth articles and the like as they emerge from a sewing machine, said apparatus comprising a support, means to engage the articles and to move them one at a time from the sewing machine and over the support, an article stacking chamber including a stationary stacker bar beyond the discharge end of said support and being below the support so that the leading end of each article may tumble into said chamber from the support and hang therein in a generally vertical plane, conveyor means engaging and supporting the trailing end portion of each article substantially as it passes from said support and is released by the mOVing means, said conveyor means carrying each article in free-hanging condition substantially horizontally across said chamber until the article engages the stationary stacker bar and is carried across and beyond the same, the conveyor means then adapted to release each article so that it may hang over the stacker bar, a clamp member for clamping the articles on the stacker bar in stacked relation, power means to shift the clamp member away from the stacker bar during the passage of each article thereacross and to return the clamp member into clamping engagement with the stacker bar after each article is deposited thereon, a second movable clamping means to engage and clamp previously deposited articles on the stacker bar during the time that said clamp member is shifted away from the stacker bar so that the articles on the bar are never without a clamping force, said second movable clamping means comprises an endless conveyor loop within the stacking chamber and opposite one side of the stacker bar, a clamping element secured to the conveyor loop and moving therewith and coming into contact with hanging portions of articles on the stacker bar to clamp them against one side of the stacker bar during the interval that said clamp member is away from the stacker bar, movement of the clamping element downwardly in the stacking chamber serving to smooth and arrange the hanging portions of the articles on the stacker bar while the articles are held thereon by the clamp member.

9. Apparatus for stacking according to claim 8, and wherein said endless conveyor loop is pivoted within the stacking chamber on a pivot axis below and generally parallel to the stacker bar whereby increasing thickness of the stack of articles on the stacker bar may be compensated for by movement of the conveyor loop on said pivot.

10. Apparatus for stacking cloth articles and the like as the same emerge from a sewing machine, said apparatus comprising a support, means to engage the articles and to move them one at a time from the sewing machine and over the support, an article stacking chamber including a stationary stacker bar beyond the discharge end of said support and being below the support so that the lea-ding end of each article may tumble into said chamber from the support and hang therein in a generally vertical plane, conveyor means engaging and supporting the trailing end portion of each article substantially as it passes from said support and is released by the moving means, said conveyor means carrying each article in free-hanging condition substantially horizontally across said chamber until the article engages the stationary stacker bar and is carried across and beyond the same, the conveyor means then adapted to release each article so that it may hang over the stacker bar, said conveyor means comprising a first conveyor loop in the stacking chamber, a coacting conveyor loop above the stacking chamber and said support and in opposed relation to the first conveyor loop, a clamping conveyor loop in the stacking chamber 10 and inside of the first conveyor loop therein and adapted to engage the articles on the stacker bar and to hold them clamped against one side of said bar, a separate power drive for the coacting conveyor loop above the stacking chamber and said clamping conveyor loop, there being interengaging drive elements on the first conveyor loop in the stacking chamber and said coacting conveyor 100p, the first conveyor loop being otherwise unpowered, a

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,198,513 8/1965 Farez 27168 3,393,908 9/1967 Griffin 27168 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,143,758 2/1963 Germany.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner 

